Minigrid

AVSI Foundation, an Italian NGO, has launched a tender to repair a 100 kWp minigrid in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project involves replacing the battery energy storage and conversion systems. Applications are due Nov. 4.

South African miner Gold Fields has contracted Scottish power company Aggreko to more than double the size of an off-grid hybrid solar and battery microgrid helping to power its Granny Smith mining operation in Western Australia.

Battery storage accounted for the second-largest share of newly operating generating capacity in the United States in the first half of 2024. If all planned additions come online, this year could see a record amount of battery storage capacity added to the grid, totaling 15 GW.

African governments are being encouraged to leave fossil fuels untapped in return for Just Energy Transition Plan (JETP) finance. Can these new financing plans from Western governments achieve their ambitious aims?

The Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) is searching for private minigrid developers to design, construct, operate and maintain a minigrid system that will electrify a remote community in the south of the country. The closing date for applications is August 23.

Wood Mackenzie says that solar will account for 59% of new renewables between 2024 and 2033. China is expected to drive the growth, accounting for half of new solar deployment over the projected time period.

Researchers have simulated the operation of seven renewable energy communities in the Port of Naples and found them to offer lower life cycle costs. Using varying capacities of solar and wave energy, they were able to optimize the system to a 90% self-consumption rate. They also offered a scheme for the management of a port energy community.

The versatility of solar mounting manufacturer and balance-of-system provider Clenergy’s ezShade 2.0 solar shade system has been put to the test with the solution at the core of a standalone power system fuelling an off-grid communications site in remote northern Queensland.

Sunrun, a US-based residential solar installer, says nearly 1,800 customers have already signed up to its PowerOn Puerto Rico virtual power plant (VPP). The program deploys stored solar energy from customers’ batteries to the grid, preventing power supply shortfalls on the island.

The U.S.-based PV system provider for infrastructure and industrial equipment without grid access has launched a battery health monitoring software module for its flagship Core Solar Power Systems product line.